Honk Festival 2009 by tshirtfiend from Flickr
With a long weekend upon us, there’s no time like the present to carve our a day or two to wander around Boston. This weekend, my picks will have you rockin’ out with a great local band, rubbing elbows with fellow foodies, marching to the beat of a honk’n drum, and soaking up a ‘lil culture. Sadly (or not so sadly), I’ll be on holiday in California wine country, which means that you’ll have to go out and enjoy these fab events for me!
The Swapaholics Boston - Fashion Week Sip & Swap
Time flies when you’re having fun, right? The weekend may have passed in the blink of an eye, but Boston is once again keeping the work week interesting. In addition to nightly events for Boston Fashion Week, there’s networking with Boston World Partnerships and a lively night of belly dancing at The Beehive competing for your presence this week.
Monday, September 27 – Closet Couture at the W Hotel
Ever open your closet only to declare that you have nothing to wear? Happens to me frequently while playing the “outfit game” before work. Whether you’re seeking a fab find or a fun night out, head to the W Hotel on Monday night from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. for a fashion show featuring both high and low end pieces from Second Time Around. An after-party with Stuff Magazine and a Second Time Around Pop-Up store kicks off immediately following the fashion show at 10:00 p.m. Admission is free and the event is 21+.
While walking through the city this weekend, I couldn’t help but notice a great energy in the air. Whether generated by the crisp fall air, returning college students, or store windows filled with fabulous fall fashions, it made me realize that there’s no time like the present to enjoy Boston.
Boston Wine Week
Luckily, there are a variety of fun events scheduled from Monday through Thursday this week that involve wine, fashion, rubbing elbows and indoor mini golf. Here are my top picks:
Monday, September 20 – Raise a Glass to Boston Wine Week
From September 20 through September 26, more than twenty participating restaurants in Boston are offering a minimum of six wines at $9 per glass, or $32 per bottle as part of the first annual Boston Wine Week. With the goal of making amazing vino more accessible to the masses, Bostonians can start their week in style by sampling wine and gobbling up complimentary pizzettes with the Second Glass at BiNA Osteria on Monday from 6-7 p.m.. For more information on participating restaurants and events throughout the week, please click here.
True Bostonians know that summer in the city means enjoying the outdoors as much as possible. With so many fantastic street level patios, it’s easy to get a warm weather fix while enjoying a fantastic meal or cocktails. Here are five restaurant/bar patios in Boston worth checking out this summer:
Eastern Standard Entrance
European Flair at Eastern Standard
Located in the heart of Kenmore Square, Eastern Standard’s patio offers patrons a small slice of Europe in Boston. Despite it’s location along busy Commonwealth Ave., the popular brasserie has cleverly designed their patio to minimize noise while offering guests chic tables for lounging and dining. To round out the posh patio experience, enjoy one of the restaurant’s famed classic cocktails and sample fresh seafood from the raw bar. 528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.
Divine Sandwiches at Parish Cafe
Patio or no patio, the mouthwatering sandwiches plucked from Boston’s top chefs are incentive enough to frequent Parish Cafe on Boylston Street in the Back Bay. In the summer months, their sizeable raised patio becomes a coveted, yet welcoming enclave for Bostonians looking to satisfy their Zuni Roll cravings. With the kitchen serving until 1:00 a.m. daily, it’s also a great venue for a casual date, or late night eats. 361 Boylston Street, Boston.
SoWa Chic at Stella Restaurant
Guilty about leaving fido home while indulging in delicious Italian food like Parmesan Arancini, Spicy Mussels, or Tagliatelle Bolognese? Stella’s streetside patio, or “terrazzino,” allows ample seating alongside Washington Street in the fashionable SoWa neighborhood, plus ample water and railing space for your pup. With the local dog park nearby, guests can venture over after playtime for a relaxing dinner, late night nibbles, or Sunday brunch. 1525 Washington Street, Boston.
Get Out of Jail Free at The Liberty Hotel
Visitors won’t require a “pass” from the famed Monolopy game to enjoy the Liberty Hotel’s happening outdoor patio. Just off Alibi on the hotel’s ground level, appropriately placed shrubbery separates an outdoor lounge sanctuary filled with cozy couches and tables away from bustling Cambridge Street. If rubbing elbows with stylish Bostonians is your scene, be sure to arrive early on the weekend, as this see-and-be-seen spot fills up fast and there’s nothing chic about waiting in line. 215 Charles Street, Boston.
Flirty Fun at Tia’s on the Waterfront
Single and ready to mingle? Make Tia’s on the Waterfront a regular fixture in your Thursday-Saturday evening adventures. With its proximity to the Financial District, Faneuil Hall and the North End, bumping into attractive locals on the L-shaped patio becomes part of the fun at this hotspot, which attracts area professionals during the work week and a larger sample of Bostonians over the weekend. 200 Atlantic Avenue, Boston.
When local nightclub Foundation Lounge closed on Saturday, April 17, it was not without its controversy. According to a statement on the Foundation Lounge’s website, the Kenmore Square hotspot’s demise is attributed to being, “A victim of its own popularity and success.”
Adding fuel to the fire, the Boston Herald’s Inside Track is reporting that owner George Lewis, Jr. tried to take a jab at the closure by parking a hearse outside of the Foundation Lounge for the “last rites,” event over the weekend. Apparently the setup for the Boston Marathon put the kabosh on those plans.
Controversy aside, I know that many Bostonians will be sad to see the Foundation Lounge close. Stylish with a modern interior, an excellent weekend DJ and a tiny street-level patio on Comm. Ave., I’ve enjoyed quite a few fun nights there. Though the closure has already occurred, let’s hope that Foundation Lounge is replaced with another chic lounge, or restaurant with a great bar scene like neighbor Eastern Standard.